PROVO -- After sitting out the past two seasons due to personal, health-related issues, senior linebacker Paul Walkenhorst has announced his intentions to return to the gridiron for the 2005 season. Walkenhorst is currently working out with the team and plans to participate in Spring Camp, which is scheduled to begin in March.
"This has been a tough couple years," Walkenhorst said. "I'm grateful for everyone who has helped me get through this difficult time. I love football and wouldn't feel right if I didn't finish what I started. I've had to face a few challenges, but I'm moving past those and looking ahead to playing football again."
Walkenhorst, who has been cleared by team doctors, will need to seek an additional year of eligibility through the NCAA. According to BYU's compliance coordinator Jim Kimmel, a waiver will be sent to the NCAA to request an additional year of eligibility. Kimmel said the entire process could take up to a month.
"I can't express how pleased I am to see Paul work his way back," BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "Paul has worked diligently to get to this point. Right now, we're not even talking about the season and what kind of impact he will make. Right now, we're focusing on what we can do as a coaching staff, as a team, to help Paul accomplish the things he hopes to accomplish. He knows he has our full support. We're extremely glad to have him back with us."
Walkenhorst came to BYU in 2000 after being recruited by the likes of Utah, Oregon State and Northwestern. The former high school all-state performer was pressed into action as a true freshman when both Josh Lowe and Jeff Holtry were injured. Walkenhorst played in 10 games as a true freshman, recording 48 tackles.
In 2001, the Lone Peak High School standout earned All-Mountain West Conference honorable-mention honors as a sophomore, starting in all 14 of the Cougars' games. That season, the 6-foot-5, 252-pound linebacker ranked third on the BYU roster with 69 tackles on the season, including 39 solo takedowns. In the Cougars' 56-34 win over Colorado State that season, Walkenhorst racked up a then career-high 13 tackles against the Rams. During his sophomore season, he was also credited with two interceptions, including a 17-yard pick against Tulane that led to a BYU touchdown.
As a junior, Walkenhorst started the season listed as one of the top inside linebackers in the country by Phil Steel's College Football Preview. Named the team's Defensive Impact Player of the Year, Walkenhorst lived up to the preseason billing. He started the first eight games of the season at middle linebacker, then finished the season at outside linebacker. In the first game of the season, Walkenhorst recorded a game-high 11 tackles in the Cougars' 42-21 victory over Syracuse. One week later, he totaled a team-leading 10 tackles in BYU's 35-32 win over Hawaii. Walkenhorst led the team with 107 tackles on the season, including 47 solo tackles. He posted a career-high 10 solo takedowns against Nevada and recorded double-digit tackles in five different games during the season. Against Colorado State, Walkenhorst tallied a career-high 14 tackles.
A native of Highland, Utah, Walkenhorst is married to Anglea Dutson and is the son of Greg and Janine Walkenhorst.